diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
index 50a84bcc..df335bfc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
+          set -x AQD_NO_UPDATE=true
           echo "running $PWD/bin/*.exe"
           ./bin/*.exe
           powershell -Command "Stop-Process -Name Streamplace"
diff --git a/js/desktop/src/env.ts b/js/desktop/src/env.ts
index 670446d4..6cdc333e 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/env.ts
+++ b/js/desktop/src/env.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export default function getEnv() {
     isDev: process.env["WEBPACK_SERVE"] === "true",
     skipNode: process.env["AQD_SKIP_NODE"] !== "false",
     nodeFrontend: process.env["AQD_NODE_FRONTEND"] === "true",
+    noUpdate: process.env["AQD_NO_UPDATE"] === "true",
     updateBaseUrl,
   };
 }
diff --git a/js/desktop/src/index.ts b/js/desktop/src/index.ts
index cc417cf8..1b70e50d 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/index.ts
+++ b/js/desktop/src/index.ts
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@ if (require("electron-squirrel-startup")) {
   });
 
   const start = async (env: { [k: string]: string }): Promise<void> => {
-    initUpdater();
-    const { skipNode, nodeFrontend } = getEnv();
+    const { skipNode, nodeFrontend, noUpdate } = getEnv();
+    if (!noUpdate) {
+      initUpdater();
+    }
     let loadAddr;
     if (!skipNode) {
       const { addr } = await makeNode({ env, autoQuit: true });
diff --git a/util/windows-selftest.sh b/util/windows-selftest.sh
index 76af17f0..4a6d2b2c 100644
--- a/util/windows-selftest.sh
+++ b/util/windows-selftest.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 set -euo pipefail
 set -x
 
+export AQD_NO_UPDATE=true
 curl -L -o streamplace-desktop.exe "$1"
 ./streamplace-desktop.exe
 powershell -Command "Stop-Process -Name Streamplace"